Regional Grazing Extension Coordinator Sharon Cunial

Central Queensland funding boost

Extension providers, landcare groups and primary producers in the Central Highlands area will have the chance to increase their skills while learning from each other and industry experts, thanks to a series of upcoming projects worth around $50,000.

NQ Dry Tropics is partnering with Central Highlands Regional Resource Use and Planning (CHRRUP) committee, and Desert Uplands Landcare, to deliver three projects focused on soil conservation, land management and cover cropping, funded through the Queensland Government’s Enhanced Extension and Coordination (EEC) project.

Sharon Cunial, Regional Grazing Extension Coordinator at NQ Dry Tropics, said the EEC project aimed to better coordinate extension services to increase adoption of best land management practices, leading to improved reef water quality.

“The project also aims to address identified gaps in the delivery of extension services to grazing and mixed farming industries in the Burdekin, which is why these projects are targeting the Belyando and Suttor districts,” Ms Cunial said.

“The projects will address needs identified by local communities, and aim to help graziers and extension providers acquire new skills while also learning from each other’s land management experiences,” she said.

Under the projects:

  • landholders in the Kilcummin area will be supported to validate cover cropping techniques in mixed farming systems;
  • an existing grazier peer group in Alpha will be supported to develop more profitable and sustainable enterprises by improving land management and business practices; and
  • the Desert Uplands Landcare Committee will receive support to host its ‘30 years of Landcare’ celebration, and increase landholders awareness of solutions to natural resource, climate change, biodiversity and business management challenges.

The Enhanced Extension and Coordination Project is funded by the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program.